A finite conjugate lens assembly including an afocal zooming component that has five optical groups that are configured to provide a ratio of highest to lowest magnification between 5.5:1 and 16:1. A lens attachment module and rear adapter module may be disposed, respectively, on an object side and an image side of the optical assembly. The lens assembly may exhibit an approximate etendue between 0.95 and 4.65 mm.sup.2sr, and may be configured in accordance with between 6.6 MP and 32 MP image sensors.

A finite conjugate optical assembly including a core zoom module that includes five optical groups that are configured to provide a ratio of highest to lowest magnification between 5.5:1 and 16:1. A lens attachment module and rear adapter module may be disposed, respectively, on an object side and an image side of the optical assembly. The optical assembly may exhibit an approximate etendue between 0.95 and 4.65 mm.sup.2sr, and may have a magnification of 2× or more at one or more points of the zoom. The optical assembly may be configured in accordance with between 6.6 MP and 32 MP image sensors.

Techniques are provided for laser illumination employing closely spaced laser beams. A system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a semi-cylindrical optical block comprising a curved surface and a planar surface. The system further includes two laser sources configured to direct first and second laser beams to the curved surface, such that the first laser beam enters and exits the block parallel to and offset from the planar surface by a selected translation distance, and the second laser beam enters the block at a critical angle relative to the planar surface. The critical angle is associated with total internal reflection of the second laser beam along the planar surface, such that the second laser beam exits the block parallel to, and separated from, the first laser beam exiting the optical block. The separation of the exiting first and second laser beams is controlled by the selected translation distance.

A light source module includes a solid-state light emitter, a reflective mirror, a light integration box, and a light sensor. The solid-state light emitter is configured to emit light. The reflective mirror is configured to turn a first part of the light and allow a second part of the light to pass. The light integration box is disposed in a path of the second part of the light and has an entrance. The second part of the light passes through the entrance to enter into the light integration box and is uniformly mixed in the light integration box. The light sensor is disposed on the light integration box to receive the second part of the light.

A high etendue modular finite conjugate lens assembly has a zooming component with multiple lens groups, including four lens groups that each feature a doublet, and a lens attachment lens assembly comprising a fifth doublet, wherein the lens assembly is configured to exhibit between 0.45 and 4.65 mm.sup.2sr of etendue, and a ratio of highest to lowest magnification between 5.5:1 and 16:1, and a magnification of at least 2× at one or more points of a zoom range.

A modular finite conjugate zoom lens assembly with five lens groups each including a doublet, wherein two or three movable lens groups are disposed between a pair of static lens groups.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

An optical source switching apparatus including first optical sources, an optical cross-connect device, second optical sources, and a first coupler. The optical cross-connect device is connected to the first optical sources and the first coupler, and the first coupler is connected to the second optical source; both the first optical source and the second optical source are configured to output continuous optical energy, and the optical cross-connect device is configured to enable optical energy output by at least one of the first optical sources to enter the first coupler when at least one of the second optical sources fails; and the first coupler is configured to implement beam splitting of the optical energy output by the first optical source or the second optical source.

An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved chamber designs, multiple chambers, powder handling and re-use systems, and powder characterization methods are disclosed.

An optical device for forming an output light beam having at least one target mode, by combining a plurality of phase-locked input light beams collectively forming incident light radiation, comprises a conversion device, arranged between the input plane and the output plane, configured to carry out a modal conversion aimed at conveying the energy portion of incident radiation present in a main supermode to the target mode, and aimed at conveying the energy portion of the incident radiation present in interference supermodes to deformation modes. A system for producing an output light beam comprises such an optical device.